Tiwa Savage Opens Up on Transformation from Tomboy to Afrobeats Sex Symbol

Award-winning Nigerian singer, Tiwa Savage, has reflected on her evolution from a tomboy to one of the music industry’s most glamorous stars, crediting her ex-husband and former manager, Tunji “Teebillz” Balogun, for spearheading her image rebrand.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast hosted by Joey Akan, Savage shared intimate details about her early career as a songwriter in Los Angeles, where her fashion sense leaned heavily towards oversized clothing and casual looks.

“Back then, I wore baggy jeans and T-shirts to the studio. I was a tomboy. That was who I was naturally,” she said.

However, her relocation to Nigeria and the start of her singing career marked a turning point, thanks to Teebillz’s vision for her brand. According to Savage, he believed there was a gap in the market and encouraged her to reinvent her image to reflect the kind of bold, stylish persona seen in global stars like Beyoncé and Rihanna.

“He told me I had to lose weight, go to the gym, wax my brows, wear wigs. He literally changed everything. When we came back to Nigeria, my fashion drew a lot of backlash,” she recalled.

The transformation, though strategic, wasn’t without controversy. Savage recounted how some of her early music videos, including the visuals for her 2014 single Wanted, were seen as too provocative for the Nigerian audience. The pushback even led to bans and exclusion from performance line-ups.

“There were shows where I was backstage and I wouldn’t be called to perform. I’d hear someone say, ‘Make sure she doesn’t wear any of those skimpy dresses,’” she said. “Love Me was even banned on TV at one point.”

The criticism prompted her to briefly return to the U.S., but support from fans, especially women, brought her back to the spotlight. She remembered industry executive Bizzle Osikoya encouraging her at a low point, telling her that “the ladies were loving” her bold style.

Despite early rejections from major Nigerian labels such as Storm Records, Mo’Hits, and EME, Savage persevered and eventually carved out a space for herself as a leading voice in Afrobeats, blending talent, tenacity, and a carefully curated image.

Now regarded as one of Africa’s most influential female artists, Tiwa Savage’s story highlights the challenges and choices behind her rise to stardom – and the cultural tensions that often accompany female expression in the music industry.